Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Assurance ManagerJimmyBar! /

Nettie's Kitchen Location:

Elk Grove Village, IL Industry:

Functional Foods / Protein Bars / Better-for-You Snacks About Us JimmyBar! and Nettie's Kitchen are fast-growing innovators in the functional food and protein bar space, committed to creating high-quality products with exceptional taste, clean ingredients, and operational excellence. We are building a world-class manufacturing and quality culture and are seeking a hands-on, highly organized Quality Assurance Manager to lead food safety, compliance, and quality systems across our production operations. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and wants to help shape and elevate quality systems from the ground up. Position Summary The Quality Assurance Manager will oversee all aspects of food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and quality systems within our manufacturing facility. This individual will work cross-functionally with production, operations, R&D, purchasing, sanitation, and leadership to ensure all products consistently meet company, customer, SQF, FDA, and GMP standards. The ideal candidate is both strategic and hands-on — someone comfortable on the production floor while also building SOPs, leading audits, managing documentation, and driving continuous improvement. Key ResponsibilitiesFood Safety & Compliance Lead and maintain all food safety and quality programs including:

SQF / HACCP GMP

compliance FDA compliance Sanitation programs Allergen controls Environmental monitoring Traceability and recall readiness Ensure facility readiness for customer, regulatory, and third-party audits Maintain and improve SOPs, quality documentation, and training systems Manage CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Actions) Production Quality Oversight Monitor production processes to ensure consistent product quality and specification adherence Develop and implement quality checkpoints throughout manufacturing Investigate quality deviations and implement corrective actions Partner with Operations to improve efficiency while maintaining product integrity Review batch records, COAs, and production documentation Supplier & Ingredient Quality Approve and monitor ingredient and packaging suppliers Oversee incoming ingredient inspections and specifications Work closely with purchasing and vendors to ensure quality standards are maintained Team Leadership & Training Build and manage QA staff and quality culture throughout the facility Train employees on GMPs, food safety, sanitation, allergen controls, and quality procedures Serve as the primary quality resource for cross-functional teams Continuous Improvement Drive initiatives that improve product consistency, shelf life, operational efficiency, and food safety systems Analyze quality data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement Assist with commercialization and scale-up of new products Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Quality Assurance, or related field preferred 5+ years of QA leadership experience in food manufacturing Experience in bars, snacks, bakery, nutraceutical, or functional foods strongly preferred Strong knowledge of:

SQF HACCP

GMPs FDA regulations Food safety systems Experience leading audits and regulatory inspections Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills Comfortable working in both office and production environments Experience with protein bars, supplements, or functional ingredients is a major plus What We're Looking For A builder and problem-solver Someone who takes ownership and leads with urgency Strong attention to detail without losing sight of operational realities Positive attitude and collaborative mindset Passion for creating exceptional products and systems Compensation & Benefits Competitive salary based on experience Growth opportunity within a rapidly expanding company Collaborative and entrepreneurial culture Opportunity to help build a premier functional food manufacturing operation

Pay:

From $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Health insurance Paid time off

Work Location:

In person